Presented by the American Cinematheque and the French Film and TV office, Consulate General of France, Los Angeles. Special thanks to TV5MONDE, now streaming the best of French-language films online with Sling TV.

Legendary L.A. scribe Charles Bukowski penned the semiautobiographical screenplay for this gritty but graceful profile of an alcoholic writer. Mickey Rourke stars as Henry Chinaski, subsisting on menial jobs and the occasional writing gig as he spends the nights drinking and fighting with bartender Eddie (Frank Stallone). Golden Globe nominee Faye Dunaway costars as the kindred spirit who takes up with Henry after the two meet at another local saloon.